Neville: Ferdinand will struggle for Rio

England coach Gary Neville believes his former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand will struggle to force his way back into Roy Hodgson's squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, unless he can prove his fitness over an extended period of time.

John Terry's sudden retirement from international football last month
sparked speculation that Ferdinand will be invited back into Roy
Hodgson's England squad after his high profile omission from Euro 2012,
yet Neville believes the 33-year-old centre-back may not be set for a
quick return to the international fold.

"Rio has not been playing regularly for England for the past two years
and even though he is a class defender, Roy Hodgson has said many times
that he won't pick 34 or 35 year olds with 70 or 80 caps just so they
can sit in the stands," Neville told Sky Sports. "That would be
divisive in the squad, divisive in the dressing room.

"He hasn't played regularly for the past 20 months, it's not just a Roy
Hodgson thing. Roy has never said that Rio will no longer play for
England. Rio Ferdinand has never said he won't play for England again,
but if he gets picked then it will be with him having to be one of the
first names on the team sheet.

"How many games has Rio Ferdinand played for Fabio Capello in the last
18 months? He hasn't played regularly for England for some time and as
Roy is looking to 2014 World Cup, I don't see a big issue with this."

Ferdinand's club manager Sir Alex Ferguson has advised injury-prone
Ferdinand against a belated international revival, even though he
believes his central defensive talisman still has what it takes to make
an impression in England colours.

"Rio could do the job for England, no doubt about that, but I don't see
why he should," stated Ferguson. "He should concentrate on his career
with United, that's what I'd prefer."